A 24th minute goal from Job gave the Samba boys all three points but the home side had nothing to show in the Anglo-Saxon derby which never was on the field of play. The victory boosts Tiko United’s title hopes after their 1-1 draw at the weekend in Bangangte but things are not getting any better for Yong Sports Academy who is comfortably finding their feet in relegation table after this other defeat.
In an encounter that animated household discussions for the past one week, it was the visitors who proved determined than ever to carry the day after their ever limping nature the past matches. At the tenth minute, Kongnyuy Jude, beautifully served at the entrance of the vital zone for Tiko United fired his shot wide over the cross bar of Tiko United’s goal post guarded by keeper, Idrissou mohammad. The visitors will once again prove offensive five minutes later Kongnyuy Jude again raid the defense line of Tiko United but saw his shot saved by the woodwork of the home side. Then Tiko United came calling at the 20th minute of play when Agbor Kevin collected a beautiful cross from Tamen but was unable to curve the ball pass the Yong Sports keeper. Four minutes later, Agbor Kevin once again on the right out of Yong Sports Academy, beat pass his opponent and served a beautiful cross that met the head of striker Job, who wasted no time in getting the curtain raiser for the home side.
The match then gained intensity at the midfield as Tamen gave all he could to contain the pressure from the visitors. With Mintyia, Ake, Monono, Choubia, Zome, Kibong, Beyokol and Chinobi all left on the bench, Tiko United found it difficult to develop their Samba style of play and their opponents keeps mounting pressure but no results and at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the end of the first 45 minutes, the home side were still enjoying their one nil advantage.
Upon resumption, the visitor came calling as the first segment of the game, as Ekema burst into the Tiko United defence but shot his ball off target. Then the visitors had instilled a lot of confidence in them and playing as if they were on home side kept on mounting pressure but goalkeeper Idrissou was omnipresent to puncture all the moves orchestrated by Yong sports.
Tiko United was definitely on a bad day and their play maker, Agbor Kevin, who after the goal went into his shelves was equally absent from the game. Coach Gerard Mbimi of Tiko United was forced to proceed with three substitutions. First Sadjo made way for Ache Ambeno who equally was a shadow of himself, and then Monono Evambe came in for Mboudgui before Agbor kevin finally made way for Kibong. Tiko United could only contain their opponents till the blast of the referee’s final whistle as they braced home all three points of the day and remain in contention for the title.
Francis AJUMANE, Tiko